Vancouver and Oakland replace Honolulu

[casterbridgecohen]

I am not Canadian or American but without a shadow of a doubt Vancouver is the most spectacularly located city in North America.

I feel I can say that with some degree of experience as I have visited 48 of the American states over the years and lectured in all the major cities in North America.

I am fortunate because I had not purchased flights to Hawaii but I was planning to fly there from.................Vancouver where I will be based for the next 10 weeks.

I would certainly encourage people to make a visit to Beautiful BC and allow some days to explore the area if time permits.

[jeanne]

casterbridgecohen.......Vancouver BC has always been a dream.....The change from hawaii is sad for some and happy for others.....Back from Florence and all plans made for Las Vegas finale; and feeling that all is right with my world....oops..your tempting post.......now, with pounding heart, a sign which usually means I already know what is coming, I am wondering, why not!...I am from the States, I have the time, certainly the desire.....just need the get up and go( I am from the granny group ). Your post was very inviting.......Would you mind my sending a PM to you , with some questions, if I decide to go to BC....... Thanks .....jeanne

[lizzytysh]

I love your spirit, Jeanne !!!

I'm overjoyed for the fans who were planning to attend in Honolulu, yet have been able to rearrange their plans for either Vancouver and Oakland, or both.

I remain sad for those who are unable to do anything but miss their intended Leonard's concert.


~ Lizzy

[jeanne]

Hi Lizzy....It is so hard to be happy when you know others are sad.....I wish for something to make this sadness go away....Maybe a miracle.....but I am always a dreamer......with hope......I am not sure about Vancouver........how many chances do we let slip by carelessly....I am trying to be practical, but......."On The Other Hand"...........Thanks for your vote of confidence................... Jeanne

[Mabeanie1]

I am not sure about Vancouver........I am trying to be practical, but.......Jeanne

Jeanne

If you were being totally practical you would never have flown to Florence for the concert last month! If you can make it to the Vancouver show then why not?? Unless you would rather go to a theatre show in Oakland that is .... I imagine the crowds will be great in both locations.

Wendy

[lizzytysh]

Exactly, Jeanne. It is difficult... a lot of ambivalence. As Wendy just, rightfully, said regarding your own situation, though, that IS a bit of a way to travel, if practicality is what you have in mind .

With your decision to go/not go to Vancouver to see Leonard [and, likewise, with Wendy's regarding Portland], something a woman, who I'm admiring a lot these days [these days because these are the days in which I'm getting to know her], said on another topic altogether is spot on for bringing reality into full, clear-cut focus [and I keep forgetting to tell her how struck I was by her phrasing]:

I have better ways to spend minutes of my life I'll never see again.

This is a perspective I'll remember for its microcosmic qualities. It's also one I'll heed in numerous circumstances. In fact, this morning, as I came from feeding my outdoor cats, as I latched a gate and started walking back to the house in the not-quite-twilight, her words were my sole thought regarding what I had just done, as well as regarding my footsteps and the seconds they occupied in my life in their making. I wasn't concerned with the "better ways" aspect of it, but definitely with the rest.

I hope you both make it to the Northwest for these concerts .



~ Lizzy

[ladydi]

Hi jeanne,

A wonderful quote from Lizzy and one well worth remembering. I recently heard another which is a little more prosaic. "There are no pockets in shrouds." You had the passion to follow Leonard to Florence, as Wendy noted. That same passion can wing you to Vancouver (which is a magnificent city!) or Oakland (which has a magnificent theatre!).

And then...Las Vegas.

All the best,
Diana

[jeanne]

Wendy....I am truly sorry about the Hawaii concert, for you and for all the others who had made their plans...Florence, for me, was a very, very hugh change in my life. Sort of like jumping into the middle of the ocean.....I do remember thinking, after changing my mind a number of times, what if I get there and there is no performance.....concerts are cancelled.....I am too old for this....travelling alone.....it took every ounce of courage for me to do this.....and I am grateful that I went....it may not seem like much, but to me it was........We all handle things differently...If I use the word practical, it is just thinking out loud......there is nothing practical about anything I do, just a bit unsure of my own capabilities now.........I do hope you can make it to wherever you want to go...and I mean that sincerely.........Hope to see you again........................jeanne

[jeanne]

Thank you Diana and Lizzy.............Your words are kind and true.....Our time here is limited and each moment should count.....but we forget so easily....jeanne

[MaryB]

Wendy,
I am so sorry for you. I hope that whatever concert you will still be going to, you will hear Avalanche.
Kindest regards,
Mary

[Mabeanie1]

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes. It will work out in the end. Fortunately I'd booked my flights to Honolulu via San Francisco so, with luck, I will get to two shows in Oakland rather than just one in Honolulu. It's just that it has all cost twice as much as it should have done. Oh well ...

See you all in Vegas if not before!

Wendy

[mutti]

Hi Jeanne
Vancouver is an easy city to navigate and although it will be December still beautiful.
Hope you can make it...and of course Oakland also sounds enticing and its a smaller venue...
Mutti/Leslie

[lizzytysh]

Hopefully, some will see you before, Wendy. As for me, I'll see you in Vegas!

You're so right on how frequently we forget that reality, Jeanne... daily, multiple times, for most of us. It's good in its way when these deeper lessons come along. But must our teachers come at such high a price? [Ask Wendy ]


~ Lizzy

[tigerm]

"prohibitive and insurmountable logistical issues"

Surely the logistics of such an event would have been sorted out before they made the concert announcement and started selling tickets

It would be interesting to know what sort of "logistical issues" the promoter means.

Having worked in the industry, this was the standard quote which was used to cover up saying 'cost or poor ticket sales'. This is one of the main reasons that artists seldom play Hawaii, the costs of staging a show there is prohibitively expensive. Either way, it is a very poor performance by AEG. I am sure they didn't suddenly realize that Hawaii is thousands of miles from mainland USA, the bean counters (yes I was one of those bean counters) must have been looking at the figures and pushing for a cancellation.

Piece of advice, for any of you who travel long distances to see Leonard (or anyone else). Ticketmaster USA offers event insurance, so if the event is cancelled or postponed you can recoup some of the cost. This is really important in the case of last minute cancels due to illness.
Hopefully those affected can recoup some of the costs. It is pretty shabby of AEG IMHO.

[Mabeanie1]

Piece of advice, for any of you who travel long distances to see Leonard (or anyone else). Ticketmaster USA offers event insurance, so if the event is cancelled or postponed you can recoup some of the cost. This is really important in the case of last minute cancels due to illness. Hopefully those affected can recoup some of the costs. It is pretty shabby of AEG IMHO.

Now the shock has worn off I am trying to be positive and not think solely in terms of lost opportunities and money so I didn't intend to comment any further on this situation. However, a lot of people are trying to be very helpful and tell me and other people like me that we really haven't lost any money on the failed the Great Honolulu Adventure so I do want to respond on tigerm's point so other people don't buy the insurance now or in the future in the mistaken believe that it provides cover that it does not.

First off, the Ticketmaster Event Ticket Protector only covers ticket costs. It is not relevant if a concert is cancelled - in those circumstances you will always get most or all of your money back. In the case of the Honolulu cancellation, all monies have been refunded, including fees. The Ticketmaster event insurance could be useful if you can't go to a concert which goes ahead due to illness or other problem covered by the insurance.

However, there is no way that Ticketmaster's Event Ticket Protector℠ Insurance covers ancillary e.g. travel costs in circumstances like this. Like all insurance policies, the circumstances covered are pretty circumscribed. From the Ticketmaster website:

Event Ticket Protector℠ insurance* offers you greater peace of mind with an Event Ticket purchase by insuring you against unforeseen circumstances. If a traffic accident, medical issues, mechanical breakdown, jury duty, or other covered reason prevents you from attending the event, 100% of the ticket price, including taxes and shipping charges is returned to you, up to a maximum of $10,000.

With Event Ticket Protector℠ insurance, you can rest assured that your financial loss will be covered if you can't attend an event for any of the below reasons:
•Illness or Serious Injury – preventing you or an event companion from being able to use the event ticket, or if a family member is hospitalized or requires care by you
•Traffic Accidents – which could prevent you from getting to an event
•Mechanical breakdown – if your car breaks down within 48 hours of the event
•Airline Delay – if your plane or other Common Carrier is delayed (includes bad weather) while going to the event
•Home or Business Issues – if your home or business is uninhabitable due to fire, flood, vandalism, burglary or natural disasters
•Care for a Family Member – serious injury to a family member, requiring you to provide care
•Employer Termination – providing protection against a lay-off
•Jury Duty – if you are required to serve on jury duty after having purchased an event ticket
•Work Relocation – if you are relocated by your company over 100 miles from your home
•Military Duty – if you are required to miss an event as a result of military orders
•Death – if you, an event companion, or immediate family member passes away
Certain pre-existing conditions may be covered. Please see the full Certificate of Insurance/Policy for a full listing of requirements and exceptions.

I carry an annual travel insurance policy to cover travel costs in most if not all of these situations. Sadly neither my travel insurance nor Ticketmaster event insurance covers travel costs where "the promoter decided to cancel the event".

Wendy